wikiHow to Write a Literary Commentary

Four Parts:Literary Commentary HelpStarting the Literary CommentaryWriting

the Literary CommentaryPolishing the Literary CommentaryCommunity Q&A

A literary commentary is a detailed analysis of a passage of text, focusing

specifically on the text itself. It should not be confused with a literary analysis
essay, as it does not need a thesis statement or a general discussion of the
book as a whole. Instead, the literary commentary should only analyze and
reflect on a specific passage. To write a literary commentary, start by reading
the text and creating an outline. Then, dive right into a detailed discussion of the
text. Make sure you polish the literary commentary for style, grammar, and
spelling before handing it in so it is at its best.

Part 1

Starting the Literary Commentary

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Read the passage several times. Start by reading the passage once out loud
to yourself and once in your head. Take the time to read each word and each
sentence slowly. This will help you get in the mindset of analyzing the text and
ensure you understand each detail of the text.[1]

Make sure you have a hard copy of the passage so you can mark it up as
you read it. Jot down any initial thoughts or questions you may have about the
text as you read it several times.

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Highlight keywords in the text. Take a pen, pencil, or highlighter and mark
any words that feel important in the text. Look for words that are bolded or
italicized in the text, as this likely means they are important for the author and
key to understanding the text. You may also highlight words that you do not
understand or have questions about. You can then discuss these terms in your
literary commentary.[2]
 You should also look for words that are repeated in the text, as this means
they are likely important. Notice if the same word is used in a different context in
the passage and highlight each mention of the word.

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Create an outline. Literary commentaries follow a very simple outline and

unlike an essay, do not require a thesis statement. Instead, you should analyze
the structure, content, and form of the provided text in detail. The outline should
look like:[3]

Introduction section: Identify the text

Body section: Discuss the main features of the text

Conclusion section: Summarize your thoughts on the text

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Part 1 Quiz

What kinds of words should you highlight in the text?

Verbs.

Words that describe the setting.

Names of characters.

Words you do not understand.

Report problem with this question

Part 2

Writing the Literary Commentary

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Identify the title, author, and genre in the introduction. Begin the literary
commentary by noting the basic details of the text. State the title, author, date of
publication, and genre of the text. This should appear in your introduction
section. You can also mention at what point in a larger work the passage
occurs, if relevant.[4]

For example, you may note, Published in 1966, Seamus Heaneys

Blackberry-Picking is a poem that appears in his poetry collection, Death of a
Naturalist.

If the text is from a larger work, do not write about the overall plot of the
larger work. You should also not include details from the authors biography or
the historical period when the text was written, unless it feels relevant to the
passage.

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Discuss the texts subject, themes, and audience. In the body paragraphs,
think about what the text is about. Who or what is the text focusing on? What
are the main ideas in the text? What is the overall purpose of the text? Who is
the text written for?[5]

For example, in Seamus Heaney's poem, "Blackberry-Picking, the subject

is two people picking a large quantity of blackberries.[6]

The themes of the poem could be nature, hunger, and decay or rot.

The poem begins with a dedication to Philip Hobsbaum, which means he

could be the intended audience of the poem, the you addressed in the poem.

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Look at the genre, form, and structure of the text. The genre of the text is tied
to its form, or how it appears on the page. Is the text a poem, a piece of prose,
or an essay? Does the text fit in a specific genre, such as fiction, nonfiction,
poetry, travel writing, or memoir?[7]
 The genre and form of the text will also help you determine the structure of
the text. For example, Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking takes the form of
a poem and fits in the genre of poetry. It uses a familiar poetic structure, such
as short lines of text and is broken into two stanzas.

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Analyze the voice in the text. Ask yourself, who is speaking in the text?
Identify the speaker or narrator in the text. Then, think about how the voice of
the text is reflected in the word choice, the language, and the diction in the
text.[8]

For example, in Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking, the speaker uses

the first person voice. The speaker then addresses a you in the text, indicating
there are two characters in the poem.

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Study the tone and mood. The tone of the text is how the author expresses
their attitude in the writing. The tone may shift or change throughout the text,
such as moving from a light-hearted tone to a serious tone or from a friendly
tone to a sinister tone. It is usually expressed through the diction, the point of
view, and the word choice in the text. The tone also reflects the mood of the
text. The mood is the atmosphere of the text, or how the text makes you feel as
you experience it.

For example, in Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking, the tone in the

first stanza is nostalgic and light. The tone then shifts in the second stanza to be
more serious and dark.

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Identify the literary devices in the text. Literary devices like metaphor, simile,
imagery, and alliteration are often used in writing to deepen the meaning of the
text. If you notice any literary devices in the text, discuss them in the literary
commentary. Name the literary devices and use them to discuss key ideas or
themes in the passage.[9]

For example, if you are discussing Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking,

you may look at a simile like You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet/Like
thickened wine: summer's blood was in it. Or you may discuss imagery like a
rat-grey fungus or fruit fermented.
 You can find a complete list of literary devices in literature online.[10]

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Include quotes from the text. Support your discussion of the text by quoting
lines or sentences in the passage. Use quotation marks to note when you are
quoting the text directly. Only include quotes that will support your discussion of
the text.[11]

For example, if you are discussing themes of decay in Seamus Heaney's

"Blackberry-Picking, you may quote a line like I always felt like crying./It wasn't
fair/That all the lovely canfuls smelt of rot.

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Wrap up the commentary with a summary of your thoughts. End the literary
commentary with a brief conclusion that reinforces your main points about the
text. Discuss the relevance of the passage within the larger work. Restate your
main ideas about the text but do not add new information or new thoughts in the
conclusion.[12]

For example, you may end your literary commentary on Seamus Heaney's
"Blackberry-Picking by noting how the poem fits into the poetry collection and
reflects common themes in Heaneys work.

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Part 2 Quiz

What is a literary device?

How the author expresses their attitude in the writing.

A writing technique that deepens the meaning of the text.

Who is speaking in the text.

How the text makes you feel.

None of the above.

Report problem with this question

Part 3

Polishing the Literary Commentary

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Read the commentary aloud to yourself. Once you have completed a draft of
the literary commentary, read it back to yourself aloud. Listen for any sentences
that sound awkward or long winded. Revise any confusing or convoluted
phrases. Make sure each sentence is clear and easy to understand.[13]

You can also read the commentary aloud to someone else to get their
feedback. Ask a peer, a friend, or a family member to listen to you read the
commentary and then ask for their feedback.

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Confirm the commentary follows a clear outline. To do this, you can try
making a reverse outline using the commentary as a guide. Make sure the
commentary has a clear introduction section, body paragraphs, and a
conclusion section. Confirm it follows your original outline.

You can go through the commentary and write down introduction or

discussion of text next to the relevant paragraphs in the commentary. Doing
this will ensure you cover all the necessary information in the commentary.

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Review the commentary for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Try reading
the commentary backwards, focusing on each word to ensure it is spelled
correctly. Circle the punctuation marks in the commentary and ensure you use
them correctly, such as a period at the end of every sentence or a comma
between words, when needed.[14]

If you are using a computer to write the literary commentary, you can use
the spellcheck option in the computer program. However, you should not rely on
spellcheck only to go through your work. Make sure you also do a close review
of the commentary for any errors before you hand it in.

Score

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Part 3 Quiz

Why is reading out loud a good idea?

It lets you identify the rhythm of your commentary.

It helps you to check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

It ensures that you've followed your initial outline.

It helps you to determine any run-on sentences.